Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-18

| won't 60 | shall play about you; and II
| only saw my way to eat out your heart
Joc-Id do it, and laugh to be able to
torment your
"Therc,' said the miller; "I have no
time to chatter with you. All ! say is
it is pity. You ought to be at school
ldlcncss leads to mischief"
He resumed his mattock She seated
herself on n rail, surveying her feet, and
then began to sing. She had n sweet
sparkling voice. Her notes were like bits
of glass.
Then the miller threw down his mat
took and went indoors, and presently
came out with piece of bread and n
plate on which was slice of honeycomb.
Cherry ripe, cherry ripe, cry,
Full and fair ones, come and buy;
If so he you ask me where
They do grow, answcr-There.
Where the sunbeams sweety smile,
There's the land of Cherry Isle.
"Therc," said he, "swceten your red
ripe cherries with that, and go along with
you"
She took the honey gleefully, and sit
ting on the rail with her knees together
and the plate resting on her lap, was still
for awhile eating bread and honey.
Joe had range of bcehives in his
garden, and he was "A famous bee mas
ter. Now on this lovely day the bees
were about humming and gathering their
sweet food. The sun shone warmly
over that little garden, turning out the
fresh, healthy scent of the upturned
earth. The bank with thyme, and mint,
and marjoram poured forth fragrance.
The scarlet runners were in bloom so
were the tall British queen peas, and the
ht1e,
flowers
Joe worked on, but every now and
then, with furtive glance looked at the
little girl perched as ring-ousel on the
rail, now intent on her bread and honey.
Then he turned round, with his back to
her; the sight of her interfcred with his
diligence.
All at once he was startled. She was
before him. She had eaten the bread,
finished all the honey and she danced
up to him on tip toe, singing:
Cherry ripe, cherry ripe, cry!
Full and fair ones, come and buy;
If so be you ask me where
They do grow, answer-There
She held up her red lips to him.
"You good old Joe. Thanks for the
honey. You shall have kiss"
He drew up his full height, and stood
back.
mo, little woman, they are too sweet
all honey"
She tossed her pretty head, pouted and
turned away.
IF you won't have my cherries when
offered, you shall not have them when
you ask. -
"If you want to repay me-" said Joe,
go back to school, and you shall have as
much Of my honeycomb at any time as
you like"
May ~ her good humor was back
again. "Ill ask mother"
and now" said Joe, ''look he e. I'll
give those little red lips something else to
do than eat honey and offer kisses. AS
you sat on the rail there thought you
a little bird, and little bird must pipe. 4"
He took out his pocket knife and went
to the edge of the dixie, among the osiers
Trip ran after him.
what are you going to do?'
Il will show you. Exercise patience. {"
He seated himself on the bank, and
she by him, watching his hands. In the
water, on the surface, We're countless
white. yellow centered starS-the flowers
of the water plantain dense as the stars
in the winter night sky. BY the side was
n grove of glossy lcaved stone crcss, with
its blue flowers. \ rat Topped into the
dyke. There were plenty of them about,
and they had run through the grass from
all sides to the mill. Myriads of tadpoles
darted
Joe shortened and peeled an osicr, and
smoked it. Presently a whistle was com
pletcd, very clean, smooth. and neat
"Will this last long" asked Trip
LAS long as you are like to keep il"
And. if | whistle on it, will You come
to me-
"If you need me ut any time-really
need mel will come unwhistled for. If
You think of flying, | will not come,
even if You do whistle. "